Dr. James C. Johnston is a board-certified neurologist with over two decades of experience, and serves as a partner with Global Neurology Consultants.

Neurologists are doctors with specialty training in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions affecting the brain, spine, peripheral nerves and muscles. There are many conditions requiring neurological attention including strokes, epilepsy, headaches, movement disorders, dementia and tumors.

Headaches are one of the most common complaints in any medical practice. However, persistent, painful, or unusual headaches, or headaches associated with other neurological symptoms, may indicate an underlying condition that should be examined and treated by an expert in the field. Dr. Johnston has authored a number of book chapters and articles discussing headache evaluations, including an expert opinion in the medical journal Headache (2011; vol 51). Similarly, neck and back are frequent presentations in almost every medical practice. However, when the pain is acute, severe or associated with weakness, numbness, tingling or bowel or bladder symptoms, a neurologist should be consulted.

In general, a neurologist should be consulted anytime a patient presents with numbness or tingling of any part of the body, general or focal weakness, loss of consciousness, speech difficulty, memory impairment, dizziness or vertigo, or any other symptom that may involve the nervous system.